Lost Dog And Asking For Help - A Coincidence?

This morning I went for a run - now that the weather has improved, it is nice to run outside. I usually don’t loop back around the pond, but this time, for some reason, I did - and on the way back, I saw this extremely happy Shiba Inu with no collar hopping around the bushes next to the woods. As my mind was trying to make sense of what I was seeing, he disappeared into the woods, and I saw this fraught-looking girl with another puppy.

It was her dog, and he had slipped the collar and decided to go for a jaunt. I found myself telling her that I had a Shiba Inu who was also an escape artist. In her state of mind, I don’t think whatever I was saying was registering, and she responded with, ‘Can you help me find him?’ I was taken aback, but I said yes. And we called the little rascal’s name- Niko, over and over again. No response. She finally said she would go home, get her car and come to get him. I am thinking about what Niko will do until then. Finally, we decided I would take her puppy with me, and she could go behind Niko and call me when she was done. And right then, Niko, not hearing us call for him, appeared, ran to the pond, and went in. I took care of the puppy while she waded into the water and got Niko out with the collar. He came out and shook the water out as if nothing had happened. The girl was very thankful and went her way. I continued my run home.

Now, my Shiba Inu - Aki had his own jaunts in the neighborhood. This one time he ran away, rolled in poop, and went over to another dog, and the dog’s owner caught him. This other time, he took my husband for a two-hour run around the neighborhood. Yes, he was a rebel. It was annoying, but I cannot blame him because I did the same. Growing up, I would make sure to keep playing in different parks so my mom wouldn’t find me and take me back home. Yes, I was a rebel who decided to do something based on the punishment - eating spinach for dinner vs two hours outside playing. The choice is simple.

On my way back from the run, I had this warm feeling in my heart - a closing the loop of something. It felt good. And I remembered thinking, ‘Would I ever ask somebody for help?’ It’s been such a long time since I have done that. Is it because I have an independent streak? Or is it just that it never occurs to me that others can help? When she asked for help, I did not think any less of her. So, does it mean that asking for help reflects on me? Anyways, a blog for another time.

But sometimes I wonder why I did the loop-the-loop around the pond? If I had done the usual route, I would have missed Niko, the escape artist. And Niko had also decided to run away to time it with my run. Why did I have to spend those five minutes with that young girl and her puppy? Why did this whole interaction leave me with the feeling of completeness?

And you know what - sometimes the answers are not needed because you feel the answer even if you cannot articulate it. Does this resonate with you?